Development Director Major Gifts

Reporting to the Senior Director of Chapter Advancement, the Development Director of Major Gifts is responsible for leading, developing and implementing a comprehensive, relationship-based fundraising strategy that grows revenue in support of our mission from key markets in northeastern California.

The Director will qualify, cultivate, solicit, and steward individual donors, foundations, corporate partners and community partners. The Director is expected to utilize an individual and team approach to building long-term relationships with current and prospective donors to deepen their commitment to Make-A-Wish and understanding of our Chapter’s vision and priorities.

This position requires strong fund development experience with cultivation of major gift individuals and corporate partnerships and the ability to represent Make-A-Wish in meetings and other public forums.

• Oversee a major gifts program, managing a personal portfolio of 200+ major and planned gift donors and prospects.
• Conduct monthly face-to-face visits with donors and prospects to foster strong relationships and secure funding.
• Collaborate with the Senior Director of Chapter Advancement to refine and implement moves management processes to enhance donor engagement and retention.
• Create a planned giving strategy that aligns with annual revenue goals and activities.

• Lead the chapter’s fundraising program, setting strategic directions, and implementing detailed plans to achieve goals.
• Identify and cultivate potential donors and community partners, leveraging multiple fundraising channels such as workplace giving and matching gifts.
• Directly solicit and close significant gifts to maximize event-related revenue.
• Support internal and external fundraising events, from concept to execution, including sponsor acquisition, logistics, and promotion.

• Develop and maintain effective stewardship processes to enhance donor relations and retention.
• Propose and manage donor communication strategies to keep stakeholders informed and engaged.

• Manage regional contacts and maintain accurate donor records in Salesforce.
• Oversee financial tracking and reporting related to fundraising activities.

You love to connect people to causes that matter in the community. You believe in the power of collaboration and listen skillfully for opportunities for shared impact. You aren’t afraid of the word ‘no’, understanding that it is just the beginning of a larger conversation. You are poised, highly organized, can manage multiple projects at one time and thrive in a fast-paced environment.

You are naturally empathetic and always seek to understand how others see a particular situation.

• 5+ years of experience with major donor fundraising.
• Proven experience managing and growing a portfolio of significant donors.
• Demonstrated ability to develop and implement strategic plans that grow revenue and include appropriate tactical execution.
• Exceptional listening and communication skills with a demonstrated track record of articulating program impact to a variety of audiences.
• Superior relationship-building and interpersonal skills which enable rapport-building with internal and external stakeholders.
• An eager teammate who looks for opportunities to support the success of others. Ability to work both independently without close oversight but also as a team player who will productively engage with others at varying levels of seniority within and outside Make-A-Wish.
• Superior organizational and project management skills with strong attention to detail.
• Proven ability to manage multiple, deadline-driven projects and responsibilities while partnering with internal and external teams.
• Maintains the confidentiality of sensitive information.
• Proficiency in using CRM systems, ideally Salesforce.
• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience in a related field.

• You are passionate about the mission of Make-A-Wish and are intrinsically motivated to serve families facing a critical illness.
• You have a positive relationship with money and are not intimidated by…